Shooters Shoot, Fast Enough Out of Arkansas Derby
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Photo: Coady Photography
Shooters Shoot breezes at Oaklawn Park April 25
Four days out from the running of the two divisions of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, two horses have already been announced as scratches by their trainers. Shooters Shoot will bypass the first division due to a fever, trainer Peter Eurton said, while Fast Enough will miss the second division due to a shin injury, per trainer Rafael Becerra.
News of the Shooters Shoot setback came during the National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference April 28 when Eurton discussed the Competitive Edge colt and 2-year-old champion Storm the Court, who will run in the second division.
Fast Enough's withdrawal, first reported by Horse Racing Nation, was confirmed by Becerra on Tuesday. The trainer anticipates Fast Enough will need four to six months for recovery.
Shooters Shoot, 0-for-4 to begin his career, has won two consecutive races this year, taking a one-mile maiden race at Santa Anita Park March 15 before winning an allowance April 11 by a neck at Oaklawn. Prior to those victories, he had been second at Santa Anita in a Feb. 16 maiden race to Charlatan, the likely favorite in the Arkansas Derby first division. The 3-year-old has made $94,880 for owners ERJ Racing, Exline-Border Racing, and Dan Hudock.
Fast Enough, owned by Craig Martin and Rockingham Ranch, scored in his first two starts, including the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita Jan. 18. The Eddington gelding ran third in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) Feb. 9 in his only race since, losing by two lengths to Nadal, the probable public choice for the Arkansas Derby second division.